South Padre Island officials looking into making city a cruise ship destination

South Padre Island city councilors approved $100,000 in November for a study to determine if the South Texas town would make a good stop for cruise ships. Click ahead for 9 things to do in the area.

South Padre Island city councilors approved $100,000 in November for a study to determine if the South Texas town would make a good stop for cruise ships. Click ahead for 9 things to do in the area.

Photo: TOM REEL

Photo: TOM REEL

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South Padre Island city councilors approved $100,000 in November for a study to determine if the South Texas town would make a good stop for cruise ships. Click ahead for 9 things to do in the area.

South Padre Island city councilors approved $100,000 in November for a study to determine if the South Texas town would make a good stop for cruise ships. Click ahead for 9 things to do in the area.

Photo: TOM REEL

South Padre Island officials looking into making city a cruise ship destination

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South Padre Island city councilors want to know whether the South Texas town would make a good stop for cruise ships.

They approved $100,000 to develop a program introducing South Padre Island to cruise lines and to create relationships with cruise line executives and those in charge of choosing port of calls where ships dock, according to city records.

South Padre Island could see an estimated $19.8 million benefit through passenger fees and money spent at the town's shops, restaurants and other attractions.

Should councilors decide to move forward after the initial study, which was approved in November, and attempt to make the city a port of call, it would take years and a large budget.

Officials will decide if the city should build a floating dock or a tender operation, where passengers would board a smaller boat to come ashore. Both will include a welcome center. An estimated $24-$30 million is needed to build a floating dock and welcome center, and $10-$12 million for tender operations and a welcome center, according to the records.

A rough timeline shows the city would not welcome its first ship visitors until 2022, according to the records.

Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here. | kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter:@kbrad5